Greater New Orleans

State Superintendent John White speaks at Chateau Estates Elementary School in Kenner Wednesday, February 20, 2013. White presented the state's new plan for reform and accountability for the 2013-14 school year. (Photo by Brett Duke, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)
(Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Last year, only 16 percent of Louisiana's high school students took Advanced Placement exams, a number far below the national average of 32 percent.

Since then, the state Department of Education has taken steps to increase participation and performance. And on Wednesday it announced some success: 23,435 students took Advanced Placement courses in the 2012-13 academic year, up from 17,496. The number of students who took the exam however, will not be released until the summer.

Advanced Placement courses give students the opportunity to gain college credit while still in high school. Research has shown a strong link between students who take these courses in high school and their success in college.

But in 2011-12, only 6 percent of graduating seniors taking Advanced Placement classes scored high enough on their AP exams to earn college credit. The national average was 19.5 percent.

"With more students than ever before participating in Advanced Placement, our state is on track to move from trailing the nation to being a leader in expanding college access to all students," state Education Superintendent John White said.

The Department of Education has been employing a number of programs to increase student participation in these courses. Through its Course Choice program, students will be able to take any Advanced Placement courses not offered at their school online. The state is also offering incentives for local school systems by awarding extra school performance score points when more students take Advanced Placement courses and score high enough to earn college credit. The state has also committed to waiving the testing fee for low-income students.

Student test scores will not be released until the summer, so it is unclear where Louisiana will stand in national rankings for this year.

. . . . .

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that 6 percent of all Louisiana students taking Advanced Placement exams scored high enough to earn college credit. Only six percent of graduating seniors in Louisiana taking AP exams scored high enough.